Secondary School Admissions

scat

Completely forgot about this - not had a letter yet! There's only one school near me that I'ld send my son to. I didn't put any other choices down. If he doesn't get in I'ld give up work and home school and wait until a place came up. Eldest got in but sadly leaves before the next one starts so didn't have the sibling advantage! I think historically most children from his primary get in as it's an unofficial catchment school but there are usually three or four that don't. All have got in on appeal though.

3KIDSNOMONEY

how do you go about home schooling - do you have to follow a curriculum and can it be done temporarily until a place comes up at your chosen school. I am not the cleverest and i really want my daughter to mix at a school but if the only option was the school near me then i would be forced to seriously consider it.

feclmum

we heard today and my ds1 got in at school of choice were really worried as 105 places and 300 applicants.
good luck to everybody with the appeals

stefejb

got an email from eadmissions to say we could check tomorrow so checked any way ....... and she's in her first choice - thank goodness - she is crying with relief

Becles

Our LEA sent the letters to the school and the children brought them home this afternoon.

My son is absolutely over the moon as he got into his first choice school. He was immediately on the phone telling all his mates that he got in

Becles

Just wanted to update this: we got a letter today and he got into the Catholic school. Son is absolutely over the moon and was bouncing round the room when I told him, then he was straight on the phone telling all his mates

Thanks again everyone for the support :beer:

dizzie

My eldest son didn't get his first choice a couple of years back and I bought Ben Rooney's book which was very helpful.

If you are going to appeal, in a nutshell, here's what you have to consider:

1. Have the LEA or governing body applied the admission criteria correctly? Eg if priority is based on living distance from school, have they given a place to someone else you know of who lives further away, and shouldn't have "qualified" for a place (under the admission criteria) over you?

2. Is the school's argument fair? (The school/LEA submit a case why they believe that admitting any more children would prejudice the education of the children already there). They often cite "school capacity" figures, but school capacity is not usually calculated each year, and the school might have extended its buildings since the last calculation was done (Ring LEA for calculations/dates; check local planning website for details of any recent building developments at school)

3. Can you prove that you child will be "prejudiced" by the decision not to allow him/her a place at the school? Have you got a case which is stronger than the school's case for "prejudice" if they allow more children in? Are there any medical or social grounds for example.

In our case, we asked to go on the waiting list (he was 7th to begin with). I phoned the LEA every few weeks for an update and he was moving up the list as people dropped out etc. We were due to go to appeal when he was 1st on the waiting list.

The school normally has 4 classes of 29, but frequently, there would be 30 in some of the classes. First argument: - If they regularly take 30 in some classes, then why could they not take 30 in all 4 classes (i.e admit 4 more than there published max capacity of 116).

My son did have some problems that I felt our chosen school would help with (but the allocated school would not have done). (Compare and contrast Ofsted reports for some of these things, also available on the web).
If one of your arguments is that you child has been bullied by children that he/she will have to attend the allocated school with, or if there are medical or social reasons, back your case up with evidence (e.g. letter from headteacher, scout group leader, doctor, employer etc).

Although you have to fill out the appeal forms and get them back quite quickly, if you haven't got any support letters you need etc, put a note on saying that you will forward these when you get them.

When you go to appeal, don't be rude or scathing about the school you've been allocated. Remember to make positive arguments in favour of the school you want.

And most of all, remember the child. Whilst we all want what we think is best for them, I think it is important not to under-estimate the effect that this move has on them. They might be feeling upset to start with (e.g. the prospect of moving to a strange school with none of their friends). If you then start to paint a really awful picture of their allocated school on top of that, imagine what effect that has. So no matter how uptight, anxious or upset you are, I think it really important to play this down in front of your child.

It is a horrible time, and I remember how chewed up I was about it. Some parents at our school had started church to get their children into the good church school, others moved house or rented temporarily. Some even fabricated reasons for needing a boarding place when they didn't get a day place at one school. Without doubt, the system does seem to favour those who have the means and/or the mentality to do these things, at the expense of others who don't.

With heartfelt wishes to everyone out there who is going to appeal. I hope it goes well and whatever the outcome, I hope that your children will be happy and will thrive in their new secondary schools come September.

olgadapolga

I am so glad that my family will never have to go through this anguish.

My children are home-educated and at least they will be able to spell correctly! My DD has music lessons at the local school, in the Maths block; as I waited for her today I watched a teacher preparing lessons and was horrified to see him spell "centre" incorrectly - four times. Makes you wonder what the other standards are like in schools!

laineyc_2

You can homschool until you find an alternative school.

Our ds went to the allocated school and it was a nightmare. All his subjects suffered. When we took him out, I found lot's of resources on line. We followed the national curriculum and when went to his new school he was not behind. In fact he would have been behind had we been able to transfer him straight to the new school we found. Check out the Education Otherwise website for information on homeschooling.

Just checked the website and ds will be joining his brother.

Becles

olgadapolga wrote: »

I am so glad that my family will never have to go through this anguish.

My children are home-educated and at least they will be able to spell correctly! My DD has music lessons at the local school, in the Maths block; as I waited for her today I watched a teacher preparing lessons and was horrified to see him spell "centre" incorrectly - four times. Makes you wonder what the other standards are like in schools!

I'm glad you think your children ok, but I'm not sure how this is helpful to the other people posting in this thread